PACIFIC COAST FISHERIES DATA COMMITTEE (PCFDC) CONFIDENTIAL DATA ACCESS POLICY

Version = January 4, 2006

This policy addresses access to Confidential Data residing in the PacFIN Central Database contributed by California Department of Fish & Game (CDFW), Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (ODFW), Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW) and the NWR, NWFSC, SWR, SWFSC of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). Any other confidential data included within the PacFIN central database is not covered by this policy.

The use of confidential data is intended for implementation of PFMC fisheries management. It is understood that only individuals with an authorized direct need will be given access. Further, it is understood that once authorization has been established, access will be limited to individuals that have been approved and that confidential data are not to be shared with individuals not approved.

The only individuals that will be allowed access to this confidential data that reside in the PacFIN Central Database must satisfy one of the following four criteria:

  1. Employees of: the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC); the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC); CDFW; ODFW; WDFW; westcoast science centers and regional offices of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NWR, SWR, NWFSC, SWFSC); westcoast offices of the U.S. Coast Guard; and NOAA Enforcement agents enforcing federal regulations within the PFMC EEZ. Furthermore, only employees of the listed agencies that have a professional requirement for access to confidential fisheries data for development, implementation, and/or enforcement of PFMC fishery management plans (FMP) will be given access. This professional requirement must be stated in writing and submitted to the PacFIN Office. Therefore a limited number of individuals employed by each of these agencies will have access to confidential data.

  2. Individuals under direct contract to PSMFC, PFMC, CDFW, ODFW, WDFW, NWR, SWR, NWFSC, or SWFSC that have a professional requirement for access to confidential data for the purpose of PFMC FMP development or implementation will be given access. These individuals must have on file with the contracting agency a signed non-disclosure agreement that specifies the manner in which confidential data must be handled. Although these individuals may receive confidential data directly from the PacFIN Office staff for efficiency reasons, the PacFIN staff would be operating in this scenario as agents for the authorizing agency.

  3. Individuals that have received an official letter of authorization from the appropriate data source(s) stating that the data source (i.e. CDFW, ODFW, WDFW, NWR, NWFSC, SWR, SWFSC) have agreed to release the requested confidential data. An original hardcopy of the authorizing letter must be provided to the PacFIN Office prior to transfer of confidential data. A single source can not authorize the release of data that is outside their jurisdiction.

  4. Trawl Logbook Data. Individuals that need to use confidential trawl logbook data must obtain written authorization from each contributing agency i.e. CDFW, ODFW, WDFW) from which access to data is requested. All vessel specific logbook data (and the associated fish ticket information if requested) shall be provided with a pseudo vessel ID and pseudo processor/buyer code, unless a written exception to this provision is granted by the contributing agency. For instances where fewer than three vessels or processors/buyers are associated with a port, the port group code will be used in lieu of the specific port code. Individuals using trawl logbook data provided by the PacFIN office mus

  5. International Treaties. NMFS agencies required by treaty to share confidential data with international organizations are allowed to release the relevant state data maintained in PacFIN only with the provision that the international organization has confidential data policies in place that are no less restrictive than the CDFW, ODFW, WDFW, and NOAA confidential data access policies. The best example for this type of access is the U.S. agreement with the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC).

The list of contacts for access to confidential data: